PhD Qualifying Exam

Students must pass the PhD qualifying examinations in Computer Architecture, Operating
Systems, and Theory of Algorithms. The qualifying examination is a two-step process.
First, students must get a GPA of 3.60 or better in these three courses within one
year of enrollment; otherwise, they will have to re-take only the necessary course(s)
and get a GPA of 3.60 or better using the best three grades. If a student does not
meet this requirement by the end of the second year, he or she will be withdrawn from
the PhD program. Second, students must take the qualifying exam and pass it. Students
are required to take the exam as soon as they meet the requirements of the first step.
The procedure to take the qualifying exam is explained next.

EXAM FORMAT: The exam will have 30 questions. All questions are multiple choice questions. Each
question has four choices with one correct answer. You will pass the exam if you answer
at least 24 questions correctly. The exam is a closed book/notes exam. You can use
scratch paper provided at the testing center. Internet access during the exam is not
allowed; the computer in the test center will have the access to the Internet blocked.

DURATION: The exam will be two (2) hours long.

ATTEMPTS: You can take the exam multiple times until you pass it but you can only take the
exam once per sitting. The $45 fee will be required each time you take the exam.